Floor scrubbing machine



DCC' 1, 1964 w. KAMMANN ETAL 3,158,885

FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1960 4 7 roe/V57 United States Patent O 3,t53,35 EL@ El SCRUBBENG Werner Komm-mr Ene-de Westphalia and Reinhold Mller, Herford, Westphalia, Germany, assignors to Liechtenstein .lu-ly 2, Edil, Ser. No. 44,330 3 Claims. {CL It-5l) The present invention relates to an automatic surface washing or the like device for the cleaning, waxing, polishing etc. of plane surfaces, such as iioors, walls, windows etc., and among the major objects of the invention is the provision of a machine or this type by which a surface having been pre-sprinkled with water containing a suitable detergent, is automatically washed or cleaned by an endless movable cleaning brush or the like cleaning assembly and by which the scrub water including dirt or other foreign matter is collected and discharged into a reservoir for subsequent disposal or renewed use after filtering.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a surface cleaning or the like device oi this type which is both simple in design and construction and which can be fabricated at reasonable cost and used or operated by the average person for use in both large establishments as well as in the home, substantially without requiring special skill or experienced.

Another object of the invention is the provision ot an automatic cleaning or the like device of the general type mentioned which may be designed or adapted for the cleaning of either horizontal or vertical surfaces and by which scrub water is collected during the cleaning operation of the device and freed from the mud or dirt collected during cleaning, for either subsequent disposal or renewed use after filtering.

The invention, both as to its related and ancillary objects as well as to its novel aspects, will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preerred construction or an improved suriace cleaner, taire in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification and wherein:

PEG. l is a schematic elevational view, shown partly in section, of an automatic surface cleaner or washing device embodying the principles of the invention and being designed especially for the cleaning of horizontal surfaces, such as floors, etc.;

FlG. 2 is a schematic front View oi a modiiied construction oi a washing or cleaning device according to the invention, being especially suitable for the cleaning of vertical surfaces, such as Windows; and

FlG. 3 is a sectional View or ilG. 2.

with specilic reference to a surface Washer utilizing as a cleaning medium in conjunction with a suitable detergent, it will become evident that the device shown and described may be used for otherwise cleaning or treating a floor or other surface without the use of a iiuid cleaning medium, such as in connection with sweeping, polishing, waxing and the like operations.

With the foregoing objects in veiw, the invention, as applied especially to a floor washer, involves generally the rovision of an automatic cleaning or washing device including means for collecting the scrub water and comprising essentially a continuously moving endless belt-like carrier or the like iiexible cleaning member having its outside surface iii ed with a multiplicity oi cleaning elements such as, for instance, spaced individual brush elements being substantially equally distributed over the entire surface area of said member. The latter may be continuously driven by an electric motor or an equivalent prime mover through a speed Fice reduction transmission drive and around suitable guide rollers, in such a manner as to cause a predetermined fractional portion of said member to be in operative cleaning engagement with a surface to be cleaned and to cause a following portion in tbe moving direction to act as a conveyer of he scrub water to be discharged into a reservoir, during the operation of the device.

There may be further provided in accordance with the invention a stripping rod or the like member arranged to be engaged by the cleaning brushes so as to `l`ree and expel the absorbe-:i scrub water absorbed by said brushes and to discharge it into said reservoir during the operation of the device. it brushes are used as cleaning members, they may be of any suitable preferably of an outwardly ilaring or fan shape, in an effort to contain the cleaning water within or to torce it in a direction towards the center of the operative cleaning area of said member.

The collecting tank or reservoir for the scrub water cooperating with the endless cleaning belt or member may advantageously contain a removable straining box or receptacle acting as a dirt or mud trap, while freely passing and discharging the water into Athe reservoir. Furthermore, suitable guide means for the brushes acting as scrub water conveying means may be provided between the cleaning belt and the reservoir both of which are advantageously mounted upon a common support or carriage. The latter may be equipped with rollers or the like for moving it over the floor or other surface being cleaned. The operative cleaning area of the brush belt or equivalent endless cleaning member engaging the surface being cleaned may be further conlined, at least in part, by suitable resilient wiping sealing members mounted upon the support or carriage and engaging the surface being cleaned, to prevent the scrub water within the coniine of the cleaning area from passing to the regione exterior of said area which have already been or are still to be cleaned by the device.

More specifically, in order to remove dirt and scrub water collected by the brushes, there may be provided a simple stripping rod wmch causes the brushes to be bent back and forth with a snap action such as to expel the dirt and to discharge it into the reservoir or straining receptacle. The brush belt or band may further be fitted, especially in the case of constructions equipped with means for moving the device in the direction of movement of the brush belt or equivalent carrier member, with lateral sealing ledges of rubber or the like ilexible material, to conne the scrub water to the operative cleaning area of thedevice. ln the case of constructions designed for movement at right angle to the movement of the belt or brush carrier, such ledges may be dispensed with and are advantageously replaced by liquid-permeable pickup tubes from which the water is removed by means of an auxiliary pump. in the latter case, that is, where the supporting wheels or rollers are arrangedrior movement at right angle to the belt, a resistance is provided against the tendency of spontaneous movement of the device caused by the movement of the belt or brush carrier.

The scrub water collected in the reservoir after passing through the removable straining box or sieve-like receptacle may in turn be fed to a preferably exchangeable container or canister arranged at an elevated position by means of a pump also mounted upon the device. The thus collected scrub water having `een freed from dirt or other foreign matter may be re-used, if necessary after additional filtering, such as by conveying it by gravity or in any other suitable manner to a discharge nozzle or opening mounted at the front end of the device. lf desirable, however, the scrub Water may be discarded or the canister exchanged for one containing fresh cleaning water, to suit existing conditions and requirements. In order to facilitate the operation in moving the surface cleaner back and forth over a floor or other surface to be cleaned,.it may be Vfitted with a Vsuitable stearing or control member, such as a handle, stearing pole or the like.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing showing, by way of example, a preferred construction of a surface cleaner or washing machine according to the invention for the cleaning or washingof floors or the like horizontal surfaces, the numeral 1 indicates the cleaning brushes being fitted to the outside of an endless belt-like member or carrier 2 consisting of a suitable flexible material, such as rubber, plastic, fabric etc., and being passed, in the example shown, over three guide rollers 3, 4 and 5 mounted upon a suitable support or carriage, in such a manner. as to provide a predetermined fractional operative or cleaning area of the belt or web 2, i.e. between the rollers 4 and 5 in the example illustrated, the brushes within said area contacting the floor or the like surface in operative scrubbing engagement therewith, in the man- Y11er shown and understood from the drawing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the brushes 1 may be in the form of outwardly flaring fan-shaped and strip-like brush elements, as shown in the drawing, being arranged transverse to the edges of the belt or carrier 2 and in spaced relation from one another. It Will be understood, however, that any other type of multiple brush assembly may be used for the purpose of the invention with the brushes or equivalent cleaning elements being substantially uniformly distributed over the area of the belt or member 2. Thus, if the latter consists of rubber or an equivalent flexible material (plastic, etc.),V the brushes may be replaced by integralribs, llutes or the like projections, especially where the device is in- Vtended as a window cleaner (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Finally, any other type of surface cleaning or treating elements may be provided in place of the brushes 1 for use of the device as a polishing, waxing, buing or the like machine, as will be readily understood.

By the mounting of the driving guide rollerV 3 laterally of the active cleaning area and above the rollers 4 and 5, or with the portion of member 2 between the rollers 3 and 4 forming an obtuse angle with the portion between rollers 4i and 5, there is provided by the ascending path or portion'of the belt 1 or brushes 2 in conjunction with a suitable guide plate or trough a kind ofscraper or drag conveyor with Vthe brushes acting as conveyor flights such as to convey and discharge the scrub water containing dirt and other foreign matter collected from the floor or surface being cleaned into a storage tank or reservoir 9 mounted upon or forming part of the support or carriage of the device, which may further contain a guard or cover 10. In order to remove the scrub water from the brushes, kthere is further provided a stripping rod 16 or the like placed in the path of and being engaged by the brushes 1 with a sudden or snap action, in such a manner as to expel the absorbed scrub water, and to dis-Y charge it into the reservoir or storage tank 9.

The lower end of the guide 10 may be fitted with a wiper or sealing element 11 Yengaging the surface being cleaned and serving to confine the scrub Water to the active or operative cleaning area of the device. For the same purpose, the longitudinal edges of the web or belt 2 may be provided with lateral ledges of rubber or the like flexible material, while a further movable wiper 1S may be arranged at the front end of the device being retained or confined by means of guard fingers or the like retaining elements 19, to restrict its movement or deflection in the inward direction( As a'result, scrubwater containing dirt and other foreign matter collected from the areaV being cleaned is prevented from entering the adjoining oor regions exterior of said area which have either already been cleaned previously or are still to be cleaned in a subsequent position of the device.

After all the scrub water has been collected in the manner described, that is, after the surface engaged by the brushes has become substantially dry, the Water in the reservoir 9 may be fed by means of a pump 14 to a canister 1S arranged at an elevated position upon the device. For this purpose, the preferably removable feeding pipe or conduit 25 may contain Va filter 26, to free the Water from residual dirt or foreign matter,rsuch that it can be re-used by feeding it, through a tube or conduit 27, by gravity or the like to a suitable discharge nozzle or opening (not shown) arranged at the front end of the device. Alternatively, the waste water or the canister 15 may be discarded and replaced by a new canister containing fresh water, as will be readily understood. In the latter case, the reservoir 9 may be provided with a discharge outlet or stop cock 24.

Further mounted above the stripping rod 16 is a mud guard 17 which serves to cause the heavy or coarse dirt to be returned to a straining box 12 removably mounted in the reservoir 9 and being fitted with a handle 13. BOX 12 may be mounted by a slip-on, snap-on or the like releasable connection, for Vdiscarding the dirt, mud or other foreign matter collected.

The entire device is advantageously mounted upon reduction drive shown in the form of a pulley and belt drive in the drawing and comprising a driving pulley 7 and a driven pulley 6, the latter being mounted upon the shaft of the roller 3. Furthermore, the belt 2 may be driven by the roller 3 by friction, through a rack and pinion or sprocket drive, or by any other suitable means. Finally, in place of a continuous belt or web of flexible material serving as a brush carrier, the latter may be constituted by aplurality of cross-bars being interconnected by articulated links or the like flexible coupling means. In this case, the cross-bars may serve as individual supports for the brushes or other multiple cleaning elements of the device.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an embodiment of a surface cleaner according to the invention suitable especially, thoughnot limitatively, for cleaning vertical surfaces, in particular windows. There are provided for this purposea pair'of guide rollers 31 and 32 for the endless brush band 30 carrying brushes 30', roller 31 being the driven roller and having a greater diameter than roller 32 and the centers of the rollers being displaced laterally, to provide a substantially vertical cleaning portion or area, in the manner shown and readily understood from the drawing. Again the device, which may be mounted upon a suitable support plate or the like 38 being carried by a telescoping or the like extensible rod or'pole 43, Yincludes a scrub water reservoir or collecting tank 39 having aV ing water or the water may be fedto a discharge nozzle through a feeding tube 37 to the top of the device and sprayed unto the surface to be cleaned, While the scrub water containing dirt and other foreign matter collected in the reservoir 39 may be removedV through a suitable outlet (not shown). The roller 31 may be driven by a high speed electric motor, turbine or the like prime moverY in any suitable manner, suchas through a speed reduction `gearing comprising, Vin the example shown,.a pulley 33, driven by the motor (notshown) through a thin belt orV cable enclosed by a protective tube or enclosure.34,.said

entrasse pulley having a shaft 35 carrying a Worm wheel Se which is in meshing engagement with a Worm gear connected with the roller 31. This arrangement makes it possible to mount the motor at a point remote from or near the bottom of the device or close to the pole 4. Alternatively, the motor drive may be in the form of a flexible shaft being directly connected to the Worm 35, or a hermetically sealed motor may be mounted upon the support or plate 38 to drive the shaft 3-5, as will be understood.

The feed Water tube or conduit 37 may be connected to a suitable Water supply and serves to supply Water under pressure to the surface being cleaned by the device by Way of a discharge or sprinkling nozzle or in any other suitable marmer. In other respects, the device according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is similar to the cleaner according to FIG. l, in construction as Well as operation, both arrangements comprising basically a continuously driven endless belt or the like iiexible carrier member having its outside fitted with a multiplicity of cleaning elements, such as Cleaning brushes, and arranged so that a fractional portion of said member provides an active cleaning area in engagement with the surface being cleaned. Both embodiments further include means, in the form of an inlet guide and stripping rod or the like engaged by the brushes, to remove and discharge the scrub Water collected by the brushes into a storage tank or reservoir from which the used Water may be removed for renewed use, if necessary after additional ltering, and preferably after the coarse dirt and other foreign matter has been collected by means of a removable straining box or container. lf the device is used as a simple elearning or treating machine requiring no water or other cleaning fluid the reservoir may be dispensed with or replaced by a simple dirt or dust box collector.

In the foregoing the invention has been described in reference to a specific illustrative device. It will be evident, however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those shown and described herein for illustration, may be made without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the apcended clairns. The specification and drawing are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

We claim:

l. A Washing machine for cleaning substantially plaire pre-sprinkled surfaces comprising a support movable back and forth over a surface to be cleaned, an endless flexible belt having its outer surface fitted with a multiplicity of projecting brush elements substantially evenly distributed thereover, power drive and guide means mounted upon said support, to maintain said belt in continuous translatory movement in a predetermined direction relative to support and substantially in line with and independently of the movement of said support, to cause a continuously changing operative fractional portion of said belt to be effective scrubbing engagement with the surface being cleaned, a collecting tank upon said support, a feeding trough in operative relation to said belt having one end disposed adjacent to the leading end of said operative belt portion and having its opposite end located adjacent to said tank, whereby to provide a drag conveyer by said trough and said brush elements, to remove scrub water from said area and to discharge it into said tank during the operation of said machine, and a straining receptacle removably mounted within said tank, to accumulate coarse. dirt from the scrub Water collected by said elements.

2. A Washing machine for cleaning substantially plane pre-sprinkled surfaces comprising a support movable back and forth over a surface to be cleaned, an endless lexible belt having its outer surface litted with a multiplicity of projecting brush elements substantially evenly distributed thereover, power drive and guide means mounted upon said support, to maintain said belt in continuous translatory movement in a predetermined direction relative to said support and substantially in line With and independently of the movement of said support, to cause a continuously changing operative fractional portion of said belt to be in effective scrubbing engagement with the surface being cleaned, a collecting tank upon said support, a feeding trough in operative relation to said belt having one end disposed adjacent to the leading end of said operative belt portion and having its opposite end located adjacent to said tank, whereby to provide a drag conveyor by said trough and said brush elements, to remove scrub Water from said area and to discharge it into said tank during the operation of said machine, a canister mounted upon said support, a pump, a filter, and a conduit connecting said tank with said canister and including said pump and lter.

3. A Washing machine for cleaning substantially plane horizontal and pre-sprinkled surfaces comprising a wheeled carriage adapted for back and forth movement over a surface to be cleaned, an endless flexible belt tted with a multiplicity of cleaning brushes projecting from and being substantially evenly distributed over the outer surface thereof, guide means for said belt comprising a pair of first spaced rollers mounted upon said carriage near the bottom thereof with their axes disposed in a horizontal plane, and at least one further guide roller also mounted upon said carriage and located above and exteriorly of the area enclosed by said first rollers, Whereby to cause a fractional belt portion enclosed by said rst rollers to be in eiective scrubbing engagement with the surface being cleaned, power drive means for said further roller upon said carriage to maintain said belt in continuous movement independently of said carriage and with said fractional belt portion moving in the direction of backward movement of said carriage, a collecting tank mounted upon said carriage, an inclined feeding trough in operative relation to said belt having its ingress end located adjacent to the leading edge of said operative belt portion and having its egress end located adjacent to said tank, whereby to provide a drag conveyer by said trough and said brushes as conveying elements such as to remove scrub Water from said area and to discharge it into said tank during the operation of said machine, and ilexible wiping means mounted upon said carriage and adapted to engage the surface being cleaned, to contain the cleaning Water Within said area.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

1. A WASHING MACHINE FOR CLEANING SUBSTANTIALLY PLANE PRE-SPRINKLE SURFACES COMPRISING A SUPPORT MOVABLE BACK AND FORTH OVER A SURFACE TO BE CLEANED, AN ENDLESS FLEXIBLE BELT HAVING ITS OUTER SURFACE FITTED WITH A MULTIPLICITY OF PROJECTING BRUSH ELEMENTS SUBSTANTIALLY EVENLY DISTRIBUTED THEREOVER, POWER DRIVE AND GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID SUPPORT, TO MAINTAIN SAID BELT IN CONTINUOUS TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SUPPORT AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN LINE WITH AND INDEPENDENTLY OF THE MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT, TO CAUSE A CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING OPERATIVE FRACTIONAL PORTION OF SAID BELT TO BE IN EFFECTIVE SCRUBBING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURFACE BEING CLEANED, A COLLECTING TANK UPON SAID SUPPORT, A FEEDING TROUGH IN OPERATIVE RELATION TO SAID BELT HAVING ONE END DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE LEADING END OF SAID OPERATIVE BELT PORTION AND HAVING ITS OPPOSITE END LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID TANK, WHEREBY TO PROVIDE A DRAG CONVEYER BY SAID TROUGH AND SAID BRUSH ELEMENTS, TO REMOVE SCRUB WATER FROM SAID AREA AND TO DISCHARGE IT INTO SAID TANK DURING THE OPERATION OF SAID MACHINE, AND A STRAINING RECEPTACLE REMOVABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID TANK, TO ACCUMULATE COARSE DIRT FROM THE SCRUB WATER COLLECTED BY SAID ELEMENTS. 